boiler repair

How Calgary winters can make you a better lover

Proof Baker brings the heat! 🔥

Is there anyone out there that really and we mean really loves being cold? It’s one thing to enjoy “the cold” and doing things outdoors but we mean actually being cold. If everyone is honest then the answer must be a solid, NO!

We can see from the above infographic provided by http://hikersbay.com/climate/canada/calgary?lang=en that it can get mighty cold here in Calgary. At Baker Plumbing, we take that type of cold seriously and are prepared if and when an emergency strikes. Whether is busted pipes, broken drain lines, boilers and furnaces that have failed you when the need is the greatest, we can fix it and do it in a hurry.

boiler repair

We take pride in being able to provide that kind of quick and effective service to all of Calgary and its surrounding locations. With over 60+ years in business, we have the knowledge, the experience, the skills and the tools to get you warmed up quickly. As discussed, no one likes to be cold and we can ensure that your home or business is warm and toasty. What better way is there to get in the mood than being a beautifully heated home while looking at the frost and ice outside. At Baker we can’t think of a single thing. Hence, its actually Baker that’ll help you be a better lover. You might just have to trust us on that last statement.

baker heating guru

Call Baker Plumbing anytime, day or night! 403-800-3007

Big changes in Gasfitting!!

MEGAPRESS ACTION!!!

Baker is always looking to do its job faster, cleaner and more effectively. Today we changed the way we do gasfitting forever. With the latest pressing tools, we can now complete gas work oil and fume free.

MegaPress

MEGAPRESS ACTION!!!

 

CREDIT TOO

 

Tankless heater maintenance and repairs

The world of technology and plumbing are forever mixed together now. Your search in finding company that can both install and service these high tech tankless units can be challenging!! At Baker Plumbing we are fully trained in both installation of tankless and the maintenance of these units. One visit provides you with years of knowledge and experience few companies have access too. In Calgary? Call Baker Plumbing and get the information and assistance you need today!!

WATCH BAKER MAKE THOSE REPAIRS

 

Big boilers in Calgary

Boilers today are complex systems that require professional maintenance provided by skilled and trained tradesmen. Winter in Calgary can wreak havoc on these systems if that maintenance is neglected! Here is a perfect example of what can happen when a boiler system is left unchecked and neglected. Luckily, no one was hurt or any of the equipment damaged, we were able to repair this boiler by replacing the burners, cleaning the orifices, adjusting the gas manifold pressures and inspecting the combustion products via electronic analysis. We treat boiler maintenance, commercial or residential, like a patient. For any boiler service requirements in Calgary, call Baker Plumbing, we come to you!!! Watch a quick clip via hyperlink of how this job went down!!

See more information

 

Heating season continues…

Swapping an ECM blower motor for this high efficiency furnace. These parts are pricey and must be installed by trained techs like us!

I’m fast but not that fast

Today’s higher efficiency equipment, both furnaces and A/C, are now using new higher efficiency motors to reduce the total electrical consumption of the system thus raising the efficiency. They also help with the efficiency by maintaining the proper air flow (CFM) across components like evaporator coils, heat exchangers, and even condenser coils. As you know from past postings, air flow is critical to proper operation, but, the use of ECM motor technology, also help raise efficiencies of the equipment.

So, what is an ECM motor?  An ECM motor is some times referred to an a variable speed motor. In one sense, this is true, it does vary its RPM of the motor, but only in response to changing conditions in the system.  But in the truest sense, all it trying to do is maintain a programmed CFM.  ECM stands  for Electronically Commutated Motor

The ECM motor has 3 components:

  1. The motor — which does not have any “windings” in it.  The stator is driven by magnetic fields.  The motor operates off DC voltage. When it first starts, it will actually rock back and forth before starting as it aligns the magnetic fields to drive the motor. The same motor will operate on both 110 volts and 220 volts, depending how the 5 pin power plug is configured. Rarely, does this go bad. The most common  failure is due to someone “dropping” the module while it is plugged into the motor and breaking the wires going into the motor.
  2. The module or ECM Microprocessor — or the “brains” of the motor.  It receives the programming information from the board via a 16 pin harness and “translates” it so the motor produces the CFM desired.  It mounts on end of the motor or can be remotely mounted and stores the “relationship” between “speed, torque, & airflow”. It is programmed at the factory to match a given unit Each module is “specific” to a model and are not interchangeable.
  3. Lastly, there is some sort of control board where you can set the desired CFM for each application and that is connected to the module with the 16 pin harness.

The way I explain it in my training classes is this.  An ECM motor maintains a programmed CFM in response to changes in torque. When the sensed torque changes, the RPM of the motor either ramps up or down to maintain the programmed CFM.  Sounds confusing, doesn’t it?

Let me put it to you this way.  Let’s compare how an ECM motor works to cruise control on a car.  When you are using cruise control, you “program” how fast you want the car to go and set that speed (MPH). The RPM’s of the engine run at a certain level to maintain that speed.  Now, you car starts to go up a hill. The cruise control senses a change in torque, so it needs to “rev” up the engine so it can maintain your “programmed speed”.  Likewise, when you go down a hill, there is less torque on the engine so the RPM’s are reduced and, again, you are maintaining the programmed speed.

The same thing is occurring with an ECM motor.  It works on a relationship between RPM, torque, and CFM (instead of MPH).  Instead of a control on the steering column, there is a board in the unit that you need to set up with the “cool”, “adjust”, “heat”, and “delay” profiles (switches, jumpers, etc, depending on manufacturer).  Once you have programmed the desired CFM for a particular application, the motor and module do the rest.

Let’s say you have a 3 ton air conditioner. So we need  400 CFM per ton or 1200 CFM to work properly.  You use the programming board and set BOTH the cool and adjust profiles for as close to 1200 CFM as you can. (Always use the manufacturer’s tables for setting up an ECM motor).  Now, on a call for cooling, the motor turns on and is going to try to maintain your programmed CFM. Here is where added efficiency comes in because we are maintaining ideal CFM across a range of operating conditions.  Of course, as an air conditioner runs, the evaporator is going to get “wet” since we are removing latent heat and humidity.  When the coil gets wet, the static pressure of the system goes up.  As the static goes up, the motor senses a change in torque (like the car going uphill) and starts to increase the RPM of the motor in order to maintain the CFM of the system.  Same thing occurs as a filter gets dirty,  return static increases and the motor revs up the  RPM to maintain the CFM.  Now, as the latent heat decreases and there is less humidity or water on the coil, or someone changes the dirty filter, there is less static, a reduction in torque, so the RPM’s decrease, all the time maintaining  CFM.

The same thing occurs in heating mode.  You have programmed the motor to maintain a desired “temperature rise” for the system.  The motor will deliver that CFM to maintain that rise.  But, again, if the filter is gettng dirty, the motor’s RPM will increase, to maintain the CFM and temperature rise.

Lastly, you can also program a DELAY profile on the CFM board. This function is only for cooling but it allows you to further “fine tune” how the motor ramps up and down at the start and end of a call for cooing.  You can set a “Normal, Humid, Dry, or factory default profile through the control.

By maintaining proper CFM in cooling, and temperature rise in heating, we get the maximum efficiency out of the furnace and air conditioner. This, coupled with the fact that an ECM motor uses less wattage than a PSC motor, you can see why these motors are becoming more and more popular as part of a total energy-efficient system.

 

Commercial Gas Fitting

Boiler maintenance in Calgary. Laars boiler and Watts PRV

BOILER MAINTENANCE IS KEY!

Replacing this PRV got a little complicated!

 

Client sent in a video of a pump screaming. Arrived to find the PRV plugged and inoperable. It’s the small things that can cause big problems.

In Calgary and own Commercial property, give us an opportunity to look after your equipment, you won’t be disappointed! If We Can’t Do It, It Can’t Be Done!

One of the biggest thieves of efficiency in boiler operations is the accumulation of soot and/or scale on heat exchanger surfaces. It does not take long for soot to start causing significant loss of energy efficiency.

In a matter of just a couple of weeks, there could be a potential of 1/8 in. of soot on equipment stemming from regular usage, which means lost efficiency and overspending in utility costs.
Scale can also accumulate quickly and add unnecessary operational expenses.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, fuel consumption could increase as much as five per cent in firetube boilers as a result of scale.

Routine maintenance and cleaning is the most beneficial way to keep boilers healthy and running efficiently. Performing this maintenance at least once a year is an investment that will pay off.

 

TIPS FOR A HEALTHY BOILER

  • Stick to an Inspection and Maintenance Schedule – At least once a year qualified on-site personnel or a third party should inspect and clean all parts of the boiler. Contractors may create a maintenance plan to be done internally or do the work themselves. It is important to have a solid schedule in place to keep clients on track.
  • Review the Chemical and/or Mechanical Cleaning Solutions – You will notice a significant reduction in operating costs by removing the contaminants on both the waterside (scale formation) and the fireside (soot and scale formation) of boilers. While mechanical cleaning typically utilizes moving brushes to remove scale from the walls of tubes and pipes, the chemical process uses a chemical solution to flow through the tubes dissolving and flushing out the scale.
  • Maintain Daily Logs – Most problems develop slowly, therefore a log is the best way to detect significant changes. Have the facility manager keep daily logs on the following: type and amount of fuel used; flue gas temperature; makeup water volume; and steam pressure, temperature, and volume. Ongoing logs will help monitor for any potential issues that might develop or identify problems that could be fixed with proper cleaning.
  • Perform Visual Inspections – Look at the boiler tubes and conducting a visual inspection to check for scale accumulation on a more frequent basis to help ensure the boiler tubes are free of scale and buildup.

 

Replacing this PRV got a little complicated!

CREDIT TO

Boiler Service Calgary

Winter has Come Calgary

Now is the Time

Calgary Boiler ServiceWinter has come again to Calgary, it seems like we just thawed out from the last ice age, but here we are. Few components of your home or business are as critical to your well being as your furnace or boiler.

Freezing temperatures work your heating equipment hard and in order to keep them running smoothly an annual inspection and servicing is a must. This will ensure peace of mind and a problem free warm winter. We have been doing this important heating service work in Calgary for over 60 years and we have the knowledge, tools, and skills required to keep everything running as it should.

In the meantime, if you notice any of the following you should contact us right away for an appointment.

              • Odd odours such as gas or burning plastics
              • Strange sounds such as loud vibrations, humming or screeching
              • Visual clues such as chalky debris, soot or metal shavings
              • Flashing codes on control boards or gas valves

These indicators are telling you service is needed and soon! Call us today.

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CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY

CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY

Its true that every home should have a carbon monoxide detector to add peace of mind and overall protection to your home and family. In addition to that safety feature, annual inspections of all heating sources that use carbon based fuels eg. wood, charcoal, natural gas and propane. Course these include appliances such as furnace, boilers, fireplaces, patio heaters, etc. Baker Plumbing Calgary provides all of those services plus many more ensure your safety and that of your family. Call Baker Plumbing for all your plumbing, heating, gas fitting and drain cleaning needs at 403-800-3007 24/7 or contact us at info@bakerplumbing.ca

We look forward to being of service.